Windows won't boot

[realburn]

my computer won't boot. i am using a 30gb maxtor hdd
installed on a machine i built myself. i have installed
windows on several occassions (XP). my machine was
working fine, then for no apparent reason hung during
boot immeadiately after verifying the "DMI Data Pool" I
have tried to repair the MBR using the recovery console
on my Windows CD and the fixmbr command.

Any suggestions on what is wrong, would be very much
appreciated.

Mike.

 

[Malke]

my computer won't boot. i am using a 30gb maxtor hdd
installed on a machine i built myself. i have installed
windows on several occassions (XP). my machine was
working fine, then for no apparent reason hung during
boot immeadiately after verifying the "DMI Data Pool" I
have tried to repair the MBR using the recovery console
on my Windows CD and the fixmbr command.

Any suggestions on what is wrong, would be very much
appreciated.

Mike.

It sounds like your problems are happening before you get into the
operating system; i.e., your computer isn't completing the POST. If
that is the case, then you have hardware problems. Here are generic
hardware troubleshooting steps:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

These are generic steps and not all may apply to your situation. You
didn't give enough information for a more specific answer.

Malke